3 nights in Vegas with the wife - help me pick the hotel (1 Viewer)

[Perthmike]

I’ve got planet Hollywood booked for my 7 day part of the trip, which was very reasonably priced.

I’m now in the process of looking into booking the hotels for the rest of the trip.

I’ve got to book 3 nights with the wife and it has to be either 5-8 June or 8-11 June. She would ideally like to stay in a themed hotel and her top 3 picks if money was no object would be Caesars, Venetian or Bellagio. She definitely wants a strip view and wants to be centrally located too. I’d like to pay an absolute maximum of $700usd for 3 nights inclusive of resort fees and taxes.

so far I’ve found
Paris - burgundy room - $560
Caesars - classic room - $680
Bally’s - jubilee room - $335
Cosmopolitan - city room - $587
Aria - deluxe room - $703

What are people’s thoughts on the above options. Bally’s looks tempting just for the cheap price and fact that it’s a strip view.

We also just today extended the trip by an extra 2 days, so I’m also looking at what to do in a 3 night period from LA.

I’m thinking san fransisco or/and Yosemite. I guess it’s not possible to do both in 3 nights?

Would I be better doing Lake Tahoe and Yosemite, since I’ve only got a short time.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[moose]

Aria is set so far back from the strip that a 'strip view' doesn't see much. Plus I found their rooms to be oddly very small.

Aria 'strip view'

 

[Perthmike]

Yes that’s a questionable view. Thanks @moose

 

[davin]

Aria for sure

 

[rimmerryan]

Cosmopolitan is my go to.
Rooms are larger than normal since it was originally built as condos.
You can request a room on the outside facing the bellagio fountains and the view won’t disappoint !!!
You will have a patio/balcony that you can sit out on and enjoy the views/sounds.

Centrally located you can walk within minutes to everything around including Bellagio, Aria, planet Hollywood and the shopping there.

LMK if you need more!

 

[celticnoel]

Aria for sure but if you can get a suite at Cosmo facing the fountains it's stunning! Enjoy

 

[Highli99]

I like Aria. Haven’t stayed at a ton of other properties because I always stay at Aria.

 

[bentax1978]

The one time my wife came to Vegas with me we stayed at Vdara and it was perfect (for us). She's not a fan of casinos in general, and hates the constant noise of the slot machines. She hates cigarette smoke even more. So finding a higher end, non-smoking hotel, without a casino, right on the strip was perfect for us. It was a short 5 minute walk to both the Aria poker room and the Bellagio poker room, so it was perfect for me as well. A $20 tip at the front desk got us an upgrade from their cheapest room to a much nicer one on (almost) the top floor with a spectacular view of the Bellagio fountains. In hindsight I wish I had tipped her $100 just to see what kind of upgrade a Benjamin gets you.

 

[Rhodeman77]

If you can get one of the upgraded Flamingo rooms their strip view is perfect for watching the Bellagio water show.

 

[DoubleEagle]

Aria is both my wife’s and my favorite.

 

[TheOctagon]

The one time my wife came to Vegas with me we stayed at Vdara and it was perfect (for us).

Gotta second @bentax1978 on the Vdara play. It wholly depends on whether or not your wife prefers a quieter experience with access to a really great spa. You're right next to Aria and Cosmo for gaming and dining which are two of the stronger options on the Strip in that area in both cases (like connected walkway "next to" not the typical Vegas treat: "it's next door but I have to cross 3 busy intersections to get there").

 

[justsomedude]

In my opinon, it really depends on what you want to do...

Aria is nice, especially if you plan on playing there most of the time... then you're just an elevator's ride away from your bed when you need to crash.

That said, if you plan on being "out" most of the time, Bally's is a tough deal to beat and centrally located on the strip directly across from the Bellagio fountains.

I've stayed at both, and recommend both, depending on what people plan on doing. If you plan on playing in the Aria poker room for three days straight, then just stay at the Aria. If you plan on touring around during the day, hitting the Venitian shops and wax museum, rolling over to In N Out Burger, The Bacon Bar, or visiting the Pawn Stars pawn shop, stopping by the Rio, or walking over to the Flamingo, or visiting the MGM Grand sportsbook, and just plan on using the hotel room as a crash pad for your 6 hours of shuteye, then save the money and go to Bally's.

TLDR; Tourism trip where you’re out and about - stay at Bally’s and save the money. Indoors trip where you’re in the casino all day - stay at Aria where you’ll be close to the action.

 

[DarPodo]

Cosmo. Aria 2nd.

A strip view is nice, but overrated. How long are you planning on staring out of a window? Get your ass out there and enjoy Vegas.

 

[TheOctagon]

FWIW, Bally's just completed a massive renovation within the past year or so. You should have updated accommodations there if you should choose.

 

[chkmte]

Cosmopolitan. My wife can't stop thinking about that place and that was before they renovated. However, I'd suggest booking early, paying up (+$20) for the 'Fountain View' AND getting a room with the Japanese soaking tub. Seriously, I don't think your wife will be disappointed at all.

Now, if it were me? Give me the $40 + no resort fee FOUR QUEENS and I'm good to go.

 

[BukNaked36]

Cosmo balcony with a fountain view is the nuts. Book a standard room, slip them the $20 at check in, request a fountain view with a balcony. You still might need to pay an extra nightly fee, but you won’t regret it. I’ve been to Vegas 10 times and it’s the only time I didn’t feel guilty about being in the room. Hanging out on the balcony with my wife watching Vegas roll by was perfect. Cosmo location is very good and pool is pretty sweet too.

I think Marriott still owns Cosmo. You might be able to book with miles or pay part with miles.

My next choice would be Aria. Nice rooms in a really beautiful place. Really nice pools – 3 main pools with several hot tubs. View isn’t that great as mentioned. Location is good but off the strip a ways – shuttle to Bellagio or indoor walk to strip connected through The Park.

Vdara has great rooms at great price usually. Location is OK, view is OK and pool is really weak.

I've never stayed at Caesars but hear it is hit or miss as it's huge and you can get a multitude of different styles of rooms. Location is great and pools are supposed to be great.

Regarding your extra 3 days, I have friends that have been to many of the National Parks and said Zion is incredible. About 2 1/2 hours from Vegas. https://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm

 

[TheOctagon]

Book a standard room, slip them the $20 at check in, request a fountain view with a balcony.

The old $20 sandwich is getting harder and harder to pull off these days. Be aware of the weekend you go on. They won't budge on room bookings on busy weekends for low rollers without a comp card. If you're on an off-weekend, you got half a prayer. YMMV.

 

[Lemonzest]

Stay at the Bellagio and get a fountain view room. You can play the music through the TV and watch the shows from your room.

This is a nice after dinner activity to do with the wife and its basically free.

My wife loved it and she isnt really into Vegas at all.

If you are booking with the missus I would stick to the nicer places: Venetian, Bella, Aria, Vdara.

Bella is my pick as it is iconic and a central location.

Caesars is a must see hotel but not somewhere to stay IMO just cuz its older. its over priced for what you get.

 

[BukNaked36]

As another option - Hotwire has the Venetian / Palazzo at ~ $170 per night (this includes resort fee) for June 5-8. Five star gorgeous place, great rooms, nice pools view can be OK, location is a little far north.

 

[XBobdog]

Venetian, Cosmo, Aria, Bellagio are all very nice. I stay at Aria the most. Venetian has the nicest rooms.


Make sure you get a players card and book the rooms through the awards website. You immediately get like 10% off (and sometimes more).

FWIW, I stayed at Hollywood with my wife a few years ago and she hated it. (compared to Ventian, Bellagio, Aria and Mandalay bay, the other places she has stayed) Mainly she didn't like it because it was over the top smokey.

 

[Lemonzest]

As another option - Hotwire has the Venetian / Palazzo at ~ $170 per night (this includes resort fee) for June 5-8. Five star gorgeous place, great rooms, nice pools view can be OK, location is a little far north.
View attachment 231637

good price for those places.

PS. I hate these threads...makes me want to go on a LV trip!!!

 

[Perthmike]

Ok thanks for all the comments guys. I’ve run them all by the wife and she is going to pick cosmopolitan.

She’s a travel agent too and has just checked at work and can get the fountain view room for 3 nights for $535usd or the city room for $408.

Should we book the cheap room and try the $20 trick? Or is it just safer to book the fountain view and be guaranteed the room we want.

 

[Michbrog]

Seems well worth the extra $42 a night for the fountain view if that includes a terrace/patio.

 

[Highli99]

Cosmo is great. I think you will like it and the spot is clutch.

Funny story though - My last Aria trip I had a room overlooking (one of?) the pools at Cosmo and it was like nothing I have ever seen. I think it was the “day club” style of pool as I could hear the undulating daytime dance music inside my room. The pool was so full I could not actually see the water. Then, everyone inside the pool was undulating to the rhythem of the beats. It was impressive.

I told my wife we should go check it out and she was just like “no”. Of course, she never lets me hang out at any aquatic drinking locations. We did that once at the MGM and my older, conservative MIL was with us and witnessed numerous young women making out with each other at the pool.

My MIL literally asked me “why are those girls kissing each other?” I took a deep breath and said, Mary, sometimes, when young women really like each other, and they are in Vegas, and they are drinking, they like to kiss each other for 20 minutes in the public pool. Can I get you another margarita?

I miss Vegas.

 

[rimmerryan]

Ok thanks for all the comments guys. I’ve run them all by the wife and she is going to pick cosmopolitan.

She’s a travel agent too and has just checked at work and can get the fountain view room for 3 nights for $535usd or the city room for $408.

Should we book the cheap room and try the $20 trick? Or is it just safer to book the fountain view and be guaranteed the room we want.

Just book the view room to guarantee that’s what you get. Not worth taking the chance and there being none available when you get there!

 

[BukNaked36]

$535 is a good deal! I'd book the fountain view. Still try the $20 trick for complementary upgrades. IF nothing complementary, ask for upgrade options. As long as they've got rooms, they'll usually cut you a good deal. Just be nice, chat a little, tell them it's your anniversary, first trip to Vegas and evaluate your options.

 

[K ALL IN 9]

My last 2 times in Vegas we stayed at the Linq only because we got a screaming deal ($33/night) it's centrally located on the strip and the rooms aren't bad. The casino kinda sucks (so do the chips) but you can walk to the other close casinos. Having a nice room is cool but how much time do you really plan on spending in it?

I'd rather get a cheap room and have extra money to gamble or get an awesome dinner.

 

[GIANTDustySquid]

My honest opinion. Don't waste a seconds thought on your rooms view. It shouldnt have any impact on your trip.
Being there twice in October, I'd opt for aria for the options you've listed. You can stay at Bally's for half the price if that what you're into, but you are absolutely getting what you pay for.

If it's only a couple of nights in the grand scheme I would suck it up and pay for aria, and not set foot in Bally's unless I had 7+ days on the strip

 

[DarPodo]

Ok thanks for all the comments guys. I’ve run them all by the wife and she is going to pick cosmopolitan.

She’s a travel agent too and has just checked at work and can get the fountain view room for 3 nights for $535usd or the city room for $408.

Should we book the cheap room and try the $20 trick? Or is it just safer to book the fountain view and be guaranteed the room we want.

Great choice. Eggslut for the nut breakfast sandwich and late night stumbling into Secret Pizza are some great options for eats. I’d do the cheaper option and try for a free upgrade at check in.

 

[johnjohn]

paris for harvesting only. stayed there in november... needs room renovations.